"The only people who want to be offended are journalists looking for a story," Carr said.

"It is slightly annoying when they take a joke out of context. They print them as if they represent serious opinion.

"It's a very odd situation, in that the papers that criticise stand-up material on a regular basis are also the papers fighting for freedom of speech and an end to the nanny state."

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Of warnings on his site that his tour is "rude and offensive", Carr explained: "There are people that come and see me every year. Obviously they know what I'm like and don't have a problem with any of it.

"But I do worry people might have seen me on TV, doing a show where I'm being well-behaved, like QI or Graham Norton, and they'll come to a show and be shocked. My sense of humour isn't for everyone."